Lightning strike a big blow in three-way race for title

They produced a stunning team performance to defeat champions Rezzers Green 42-39 in Tuesday night’s top-of-table clash, which proved an edge-of-the-seat affair – there were never more than a handful of goals in it.

While Lightning seem to be gelling superbly amid ongoing squad issues, Rezzers entered the Grammar School duel with an unsettled shooting circle – particularly given Verona Tomlin’s injury blow in last week’s loss to Blaze – and were made to suffer for it.

But after Rezzers fought to the end and outscored them in the last quarter, Lightning captain Donna Brehaut expects more tough battles to come.

‘Every game is tough in this league and we go into all those games knowing that they’re going to be tough,’ she said with the final cycle of fixtures soon approaching.

‘The Blaze and Rezzers contests we look forward to and that’s what’s so good about the league – all three teams are capable of taking points off each other.’

Indeed, this result means that Blaze beating Lightning is the only big win that has not yet materialised this season, and GS Brehaut’s stellar shooting partnership with GA Steph Batiste certainly played its part on Tuesday.

Although Rezzers sped to an initial lead and continued producing a nice stream of turnovers throughout the court, soon came some conversion woes – quite unlike their rivals.

Both Lightning shooters impressed amid a cramped circle, overcoming constant pressure from Rezzers GK Abby McCracken and GD Gemma Batiste to establish a 12-11 quarter lead.

But Lightning showed no weak links and would fight out the whole game unchanged, with dominant GK Lorna Hall eventually earning player-of-the-match as GD Rose Haysom stepped up remarkably well from their C team. A strong centre-court ensured their turnovers were in safe hands.

Rezzers introduced teenager WA Harriet Savident in quarter two, and after reaching half-time on the wrong side of a 21-20 scoreline, fellow youngster Emma Sykes took over from Anna Trump in the GA position normally reserved for Tomlin.

These fresh legs did not save them from some costly errors – including lost possession in centre-court – as Lightning pulled to 32-28 in quarter three.

Rezzers produced a spirited finish but, after a nail-biting 60 minutes, Brehaut’s side stayed clear to secure five league points to their rivals’ two.

‘Absolutely delighted with the win and the way the girls played – just a shame we didn’t close it out as we wished for, but we hung on in the end,’ the captain added.

‘It was a really good game and each of us did our job.

‘It’s a shame what happened with Verona last week but Rezzers without her are still a very, very strong side and obviously we’ve lost Nat [Cavanagh] as well this season, and Charlotte [Hill], so are having to regroup.’

Sammie Cox has joined that list following a rib injury.

Rezzers captain Tiff Gervaise-Brazier, who proved instrumental within a tireless centre-court that also included ‘POM’ Becky Chamberlain, admitted their shooting accuracy had let them down.

‘It’s just one of those things – you can’t blame it on anything, but it just wasn’t going our way in the shooting circle,’ she said.

‘We made a lot of changes today, so I’m really pleased with the versatility. Emma, Harriet, Bex – everyone pretty much moved positions.

‘It was a well-contested game but Donna and Steph’s shooting must have been over 90% tonight, and to compete with shooting statistics like that is difficult even on a good day.

‘We made some really good defensive turnovers throughout the court and yeah, the last quarter we worked really hard and pulled it back. A loss is a loss, but I’m pleased with the performance.’

Beforehand, Blaze gained the expected win over Lightning B but with a relatively tight 62-54 scoreline as the underdogs came together superbly to test the third-placed side.

Blaze’s versatile Hannah Blondel and teenage Lightning shooter Immy Giles took the honours.